Chase lands teen in jail

Gladstone resident allegedly stole car

January 9, 2013

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, Wis. - An 18-year-old Gladstone man was arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle in Wisconsin this past weekend, according to Sheboygan County Circuit Court records.

Ray Gidean-John Potter, of 501 Montana Ave., Gladstone, was arrested Sunday evening for attempting to flee a police officer in Sheboygan County. He was also arrested for damage done to the patrol car during the chase.

Potter, who has past convictions of stealing vehicles, was driving a Ford Mustang when a Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department deputy attempted to stop him because the car was seen weaving in traffic in Ozauke County. The Mustang was listed as being stolen from Illinois.

According to the criminal complaint against Potter, the deputy pursued Potter on Interstate 43 with speeds reaching 120 miles per hour. The Mustang's tires were spiked by police several times during the pursuit, which went into Manitowoc County.

At that point, the state police took over the vehicle chase and later apprehended Potter in Brown County after officers and a canine pursued him on foot. Potter was turned over to the Sheboygan County deputy who initially tried to pull him over.

While riding in the sheriff's vehicle, Potter asked the deputy several questions. According to the criminal complaint, Potter questioned the deputy if this was his longest chase, how many counties the chase involved, and how many officers participated.

According to the complaint, Potter told the deputy he was initially going to pull over but wanted to see if he could outrun the deputy's Crown Victoria and see how far he could make it.

Attempted fleeing from police is a felony with a maximum punishment of three and a half years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The misdemeanor of criminal damage to the police car carries a maximum sentence of nine months in jail and a $10,000 fine. Debris coming from the stolen vehicle damaged the squad car's hood and windshield.

Potter was also arrested as a fugitive from justice. According to Delta County Circuit Court records, Potter did not show up in court on Jan. 3 for a scheduled sentencing on a conviction for receiving and stealing stolen property and a second-offense habitual offender. A bench warrant for his arrest was issued on Jan. 4 by Delta County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Davis.

Other past charges Potter has been convicted of in Delta County include unlawful driving away of a motor vehicle, driving on a suspended license, failure to report an accident, and violation of a restricted license.